tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35896294326921803032017-07-29T01:11:11.945-07:00VOM in MEXICO: A Voice for Those Who Don't Have OneTestimonies from the Ministry Founder ...avoiceforothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10227637615151112263noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589629432692180303.post-20204428504416138332014-09-14T14:13:00.001-07:002014-09-14T14:15:34.674-07:00VOMC / VOM Mexico: Shining God's Light in the Darkness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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These are certainly difficult times to think of shining God's light as we look at the the events taking place around the world, and actually in Mexico, where this VOM office is working from. Wars, rumors of wars, ethnic or sectarian group against rival sectarian ethnic group, the ever growing threat of disease as seen in the Ebola epidemic striking at least 5 African nations, the march of terrorism and radical Islam seen in ISIS (Irak and Siria) and Boko Haram in Nigeria, the kidnapping, and rape of young and even married women, our youth responding to the foreign call to Jihad, and in Mexico the actual complete disregard in more than half a dozen states of religious freedom, and the threats of violence in a number of Mexican states beseiged by drug cartels. <br />
<br />
It may cost us to think of witnessing to others in such circumstances, or lifting in prayer those who so cold heartedly inflict the barbarities on others that we are seeing or reading about. But for such times are we called especially to be a light shining in the darkness... for what we are witnessing is a spiritual darkness and social regression that&nbsp; has the power to amaze us at the wickedness present in our world. Every day that wickedness seems to come closer as through tv news or social networks we see more and more the depravity of man towards man, in a way that we hadn't thought possible in our own small civilized worlds. <br />
<br />
It is urgent that we lift our brothers and sisters in Christ in prayer, wherever they may be suffering persecution or affliction around the world, that we be one with them. It is also urgent that we as the Body of Christ speak out for those who are minority or marginalized groups being victimized at the same time as our own... and lastly, we must, we are required to lift in&nbsp; prayer those who are the perpetrators of atrocities against the first two groups I mentioned. Christ specifically commands us to love our enemy... and to forgive. It is not a request, not an invitation. We are to love and forgive those who trespass against us, and ours.<br />
<br />
We are to lift them in prayer...we are to carry them to Christ if it were possible.<br />
Who else is there who will? if not the Christ followers?<br />
<br />
Remember to lift and keep in prayer those whom the Lord has called to shine His light in the darkness,&nbsp; through their living testimonies of love and forgiveness in the midst of their own suffering and loss... those who are persecuted for the sake of Christ. <br />
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<br />avoiceforothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10227637615151112263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589629432692180303.post-42319806993164606682014-07-13T17:47:00.002-07:002014-07-13T17:47:45.841-07:00VOMC / VDLM-VOM Compassionate Response: Goats or Sheep?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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People always ask what they can do to help their persecuted brethren... and how to do that from a distance. So many post on our published testimonies on Facebook or prayer alerts, "the only thing we can do is pray". Prayer is the starting point, but not where our responsibilities end. It's understood that we should lift others in prayer... our families, our churches, our governments, etc. over and over again. But the Bible tells us very specifically that Jesus requieres much more than that. Has the church forgotten Matthew 25: 31 to 46? <b>Jesus tells us that the judgment of the nations / peoples&nbsp; will be based on:</b><br />
<ul>
<li><b>having fed the hungry and starving</b></li>
<li><b>having given drink to the thirsty</b></li>
<li><b>having given shelter to the foreigner or stranger</b></li>
<li><b>having clothed the naked</b></li>
<li><b>having visited and attended to the sick</b></li>
<li><b>and having visited and remembered the imprisoned</b></li>
</ul>
If the Body of Christ after praying can not reach out and physically do the above to show compassion to those most in need... the persecuted brethren being amongst them, then they can and should respond through the programs of ministries or organizations that they can trust to do it in their place.&nbsp; <br />
<br />
VOM Mexico has projects that respond to the above needs of the persecuted believer in Mexico, and is developing international outreaches also to persecuted believers and their families in Colombia, Pakistan, and India. In Chiapas we have been responding through the following: <br />
<ul>
<li>Legal Attenion and Counseling</li>
<li>Humanitarian Aid to Persecuted Groups</li>
<li>Immediate Attention and Follow-up: through the VOM TEAM stationed at the ASAP Base in San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas located in the middle of the conflict zone itself.</li>
<li>Counseling and Workshops for Women and their Families</li>
<li>and more.&nbsp; </li>
</ul>
Why not reach out and touch the life of a persecuted family or group in Mexico? These people don't want to escape suffering, and are not looking to immigrate to another country to imrove their lot... they just want to go back to their communities, practice and share their faith, and work things out with their families and neighbors. We are not only their Voices, but your hands and feet to bless them in the name of the extended Body of Christ. Hebrews 13: 3avoiceforothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10227637615151112263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589629432692180303.post-15727248039174361222014-07-12T14:49:00.001-07:002014-07-14T05:23:14.454-07:00How to become involved / Supporting the Persecuted Church in Mexico<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">(Brother Pedro, released after being imprisoned for 3 1/2 years on false charges is now back with his family. But they paid a high price for his absence and are working to pay off the money borrowed&nbsp;to send him and his son food while imprisoned, and to care for his family while alone. )&nbsp; </span><br />
<br />
You can support the persecuted church in our area by:<br />
<ul>
<li>being informed</li>
<li>praying specifically, but allowing / asking that the Lord's will to be worked in the lives of both persecuted and persecutors.&nbsp;</li>
<li>sending a word of encouragement as is possible, with cards, letters,
or even drawings, best using simple scriptures and&nbsp; brief to the
point messages, and without criticizing o denegating the regime,
government or religious authorities. </li>
<li>send personally if possible or through Voice of the Matyrs projects basic items needed for humanitarian purposes</li>
<li>for Mexico there is always a need for: humanitarian aid in basic
food allotments, Bibles, clothes for children, jackets for the cold
months, t-shirts, cuddle blankets / soft huggable stuffed animals for
pre schoolers / toddlers, basic school material, book bags, simple
Sunday School materials, more pictures the better, Bible Society sticker
or coloring books,&nbsp;</li>
<li>on our end we are responsable for cooking utensils, blankets, sleeping mats, jackets, etc. </li>
<li>Offerings for Legal Aid, Humanitarian Aid, Newletter / Bulletin in
Spanish, Women in the Breach, and Family Workshops, Jesus Freaks / Youth
and Young Adults, Kids of Courage, and Blessings programs and of course
general operational costs on which the ministry depends to be able to
reach out and touch the persecuted brethren.</li>
<li>Short Term Missionary Trips: we do receive groups at our Base to
allow you to meet the persecuted brethren in person, under strict
supervision.</li>
<li>Being a Voice for the persecuted in general, and Mexico in particular.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Participating in the yearly IDOP in your own region, in your own
language, and remembering the persecuted brethren in Mexico... they are
not interested in escaping to the USA or Canada, but in returning to
their communities and being able to practice their faith.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
For more information: send comment to this blog.&nbsp; <br />
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Photo: basic elements of food baskets given on regular basis in Chiapas </div>
avoiceforothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10227637615151112263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589629432692180303.post-56330730233107131082014-07-12T12:12:00.000-07:002014-07-12T13:28:51.087-07:00Ministerios VDLM-VOM Mexico, AC / Now registered in Mexico<br />
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Nos da mucho gusto avisarles que el ministerio Voz de los Martires en Mexico ya se ha registrado como Ministerios VDLM-VOM Mexico, AC. Son varios años desde 2009 que fuimos certificados como mision afiliada a Voice of the Martyrs ICA, como una oficina independiente. A travez de los años hemos dado la bienvenido a muchos conocidos por su trabajo en el ambiente de la persecucion religiosa en Mexico. Damos gracias a Dios por la entrada y el esfuerzo de cada uno, y al salirse para otros caminos, les hemos deseado bendiciones sobre sus vidas.<br />
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<b>We are very pleased to advise you that Voice of the Martyrs in Mexico has finally been registered as Ministerios VDLM-VOM Mexico, AC. Its been since 2009 that we were certified as a VOM Mision afiliate. Through the years we have welcomed and benefitted from the participation of a number of relatively known (and others unknown) in the ministry, giving thanks to the Lord for their time of service, and wishing them blessings when they leftfor whatever reason. </b><br />
<br />
El Equipo de Voz de los Martires ahora esta compuesto por aquellos sirviendo desde la Base ASAP en San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas: <b>&nbsp;</b><br />
<b>The VOM Team working out of the ASAP Base in Chiapas Mexico are:&nbsp; </b><br />
<ul>
<li><b>Linda Joy Picard</b>, Fundadora y Asesora VOM ICA, Capacitaciones, Programacion de Atencion Secundaria, ICA Rep</li>
<li><b>Luis Antonio Lopez Herrera</b>, Director de Atencion Inmediata, Gestion, Apoyo Humanitario, Comunicaciones y Vocero, y de Enlaces Pastores y Lideres</li>
<li><b>Veronica Garcia Ballinas</b>, encargada de la Base ASAP, Coordinadora de Talleres Familiares de Mujeres en la Brecha, y de Manualidades / Recuerdos / Regalos&nbsp;</li>
<li><b>Maria Dolores Hernandez Bonifaz</b>, Coordinadora de Niños Valientes</li>
<li><b>Tomas Sansores Sastre</b>, Enlaces Tabasco desde Chiapas</li>
<li><b>Yolanda Dominguez Avalos</b>, Enlaces Tabasco, y Mujeres en la Brecha / Aconsejaria</li>
</ul>
Bajo la supervision de personal de la Base ASAP; desde el norte son sirvidos en el VDLM Centro en Sinaloa por medio de: <b>&nbsp;</b><br />
<b>Under the supervision of the ASAP Base, from the northern part of Mexico in the VOM Center Sinaloa, we present: </b><br />
<ul>
<li><b>Janeth Rios Moreno</b>, Encargada de oficina y supervision de trabajos relacionados con el impreso y distribucion de materiales.&nbsp; </li>
<li><b>Jorge Luis Gomez Delgado</b> en <b>Jalisco</b>, Enlaces Pastores y Lideres.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
La Directiva incluye pastores y lideres de Chiapas, varios de ellos de trasfondo Indigena (Tzotzil Huixteco, y Tojolabal de Las Margaritas); entre ellos uno desplazado desde decadas atras, y otro actualmente desplazado de su comunidad junto con otros 30 + mas.<br />
<br />
<b>The Board of Directors includes pastors and leaders from the state of Chiapas, several of whom are of Indigenous background themselves, one who was displaced from his community decades ago, and the other actually part of a group presently expelled from their community in Las Margaritas. </b><br />
<br />
Les invitamos a renovar sus relaciones con nosotros o conocernos por medio de los programas establecidos para ministrar a y atender a los hermanos perseguidos por su fe en Mexico y alrededor del mundo. <b>&nbsp;</b><br />
<br />
<b>We invite you to renew your relationship with VOM Mexico, o get to know us though the programs we have established over the past few years to minister to and attend to the brethren who have been persecuted for their faith in Mexico and around the world. </b><br />
<br />
<div class="ProfileTweet-authorDetails">
<a class="ProfileTweet-originalAuthorLink u-linkComplex js-nav js-user-profile-link" data-user-id="21889267" href="https://twitter.com/avoiceforothers">
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<span class="ProfileTweet-originalAuthor u-pullLeft u-textTruncate js-action-profile-name">
<b class="ProfileTweet-fullname u-linkComplex-target">Linda VOZ</b>
<span class="ProfileTweet-screenname u-inlineBlock u-dir" dir="ltr">
<span class="at">@</span>avoiceforothers
</span>
</span>
</a>
<span class="u-pullLeft">&nbsp;</span><span class="u-pullLeft"><a class="ProfileTweet-timestamp js-permalink js-nav js-tooltip" href="https://twitter.com/avoiceforothers/status/487691903996289024" title="1:16 PM - 11 Jul 2014"><span class="js-short-timestamp js-relative-timestamp" data-long-form="true" data-time="1405109785">
</span>
</a>
</span>
</div>
Ministerios VDLM-VOM Mexico, AC / Cuenta Bancaria para sus Donativos / Voice of the Martyrs Mexico now has it AC... <a class="twitter-timeline-link" data-expanded-url="http://fb.me/4dibwx97k" dir="ltr" href="http://t.co/EZY0lXvWrW" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="http://fb.me/4dibwx97k"><span class="tco-ellipsis"></span><span class="invisible">http://</span><span class="js-display-url">fb.me/4dibwx97k</span></a><br />
<span class="js-display-url"><br /></span>
<span class="js-display-url"><b>Above is the information needed to deposit in the new VDLM-VOM bank account.&nbsp; You may support the Mexican persecuted beievers though your local offices in Canada, the USA, etc, or directly to our account if you prefer the personal relationship with the Mexican office. </b></span><br />
<br />avoiceforothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10227637615151112263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589629432692180303.post-26189545546069268672012-03-01T10:53:00.000-08:002012-03-01T10:53:18.866-08:00VOM Ministries Forming their Youth and Young Adult Outreaches<h4>
&nbsp;While Voice of the Martyrs in Mexico has been working for several years in establishing their youth connections through Locos por Jesus, soon to be promoted in Latina America, we rejoice to&nbsp; see the Australian and VOMC teams joining in their ThirteenThree effort.</h4>
<h4>
Coming up: VOMC's youth ministry launch and annual conference</h4>
<h5>
&nbsp;</h5>
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<tbody>
<tr>
<td align="center" style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><img alt="" border="0" height="190" hspace="10" src="http://www.persecution.net/images/countries/iran/hovsepian-sm.jpg" width="300" /><br />
The Hovsepian brothers, whose father was martyred in 1994,<br />
are scheduled speakers for the conference.<br />
<br />
&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
This spring, please join us for our youth ministry launch
and for our annual prayer conference! Scheduled speakers include
Gilbert and Joseph Hovsepian, Iranian brothers whose father, Haik, was
martyred in 1994 (for more information about the Hovsepian's ministry,
go to <a href="http://www.hovsepian.com/" target="_blank">www.hovsepian.com</a>).<br />
Be sure to mark your calendar now for these special events in Calgary!<br />
Centre Street Church, West Campus<br />
4120 Centre Street N<br />
Calgary, AB T2E 2Y7<br />
Thirteen Three is the new youth and young adult
initiative of The Voice of The Martyrs Canada. Thirteen Three's mission
is to empower and impassion young adults to be bound with their
persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ through praying, giving,
writing, and telling others. For more information about VOM's youth
ministry, visit <a href="http://www.thirteenthree.ca/" target="_blank">www.ThirteenThree.ca</a> or visit our Facebook page at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ThirteenThreeCanada" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/ThirteenThreeCanada</a>.<br />
Youth Ministry Launch<br />
Friday, April 13, 2012<br />
7:15 - 10 p.m.<br />
Our annual prayer conference will be held the following
day. The conference will provide the opportunity to hear from Iranian
Christians, pray for the persecuted, and worship together with fellow
believers.<br />
Standing in the Fire Prayer Conference<br />
Saturday, April 14, 2012<br />
9 a.m. - 3 p.m.avoiceforothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10227637615151112263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589629432692180303.post-17999486423315002662012-03-01T10:46:00.000-08:002012-03-01T10:46:43.962-08:00Celebrating Early Release in China<h4>
Update: Li Ying released early from prison in China</h4>
<h5>
(Sources: China Aid Association, VOM-USA)</h5>
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Praise God for Li's early release!<br />
<br />
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&nbsp;</td>
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</tbody>
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Journalist and Christian activist Li Ying was released
from prison in China on December 25, 2011, almost five years before the
end of her 15-year sentence. During her time in prison, she was
reportedly forced to work 15 hours a day on products for export. Her
visits with her family were also strictly limited, and she was not
allowed to have a Bible.<br />
Li was arrested in April 2001 for her work on an
underground Christian magazine. In December 2001, Li was one of 17 South
China Church leaders who were convicted of "using a cult to undermine
enforcement of the law," five of whom were sentenced to death. Li was
one of them, but as a result of the ensuing international outcry a
higher court revoked the death sentences in September 2002, citing lack
of clarity about certain facts and insufficient evidence. The case was
retried in October 2002. Instead of the crime of "using a cult," the
five who had been condemned to death were convicted instead of
"intentional assault" (for more information, <a href="http://www.persecution.net/cn-2003-10-10.htm" target="_blank">click here</a>).<br />
China Aid Association founder and president, Bob Fu,
spoke with Li on February 10. Li is very grateful for the support she
received from around the world. She told Fu that she was aware of the
many letters she had received but that authorities never let her see the
letters.<br />
Thank the Lord for this wonderful answer to prayer! Ask
Him to restore Li physically and emotionally. Pray that she will draw
ever closer to Him as she comes to terms with her new life outside
prison walls. Pray for the many Christian believers currently in prison
for their faith.<br />
To learn more about the persecuted Church in China, please visit the <a href="http://www.persecution.net/china.htm" target="_blank">China Country Report</a>. To find out how you can encourage other imprisoned believers in China, visit VOM's letter writing site at <a href="http://www.prisoneralert.com/" target="_blank">www.PrisonerAlert.com</a>. For our letter writing guide and complete prisoners' list, go to the <a href="http://www.persecution.net/write.htm" target="_blank">Writing Letters page</a>.avoiceforothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10227637615151112263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589629432692180303.post-74291062322784867582012-03-01T10:44:00.000-08:002012-03-01T10:44:14.367-08:00Celebrating Release in Turkmenistan<h4>
Update: Pastor released from prison in Turkmenistan</h4>
<h5>
(Source: Forum 18 News Service)</h5>
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<td align="center" style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><img alt="" border="0" height="211" hspace="10" src="http://www.persecution.net/images/countries/turkmenistan/tm-nurliev.jpg" width="186" /><br />
Praise God for Pastor Ilmurad’s release!<br />
<br />
&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Nearly 18 months after his August 2010 arrest, Pastor
Ilmurad Nurliev has been released from prison. Pastor Ilmurad, 46, was
arrested at his home in Mary in south-eastern Turkmenistan on August 27,
2010. He was charged with extracting money from three people -- an
accusation his wife, Maya, and fellow church members strongly denied
(for more, <a href="http://www.persecution.net/tm-2011-09-15.htm" target="_blank">click here</a>).<br />
On February 18, Pastor Ilmurad was among a group of about
230 prisoners freed under amnesty from a labour camp. "Church members
have been coming to the house to celebrate my release with me," Pastor
Ilmurad said. "I want to thank ... everyone who supported me and helped
my release."<br />
Praise God for Pastor Ilmurad's release! Pray that God
will heal any physical, emotional, or spiritual wounds. Pray that God
will continue to equip and use Pastor Ilmurad to further His Kingdom in
Turkmenistan.<br />
Please visit the <a href="http://www.persecution.net/turkmenistan.htm" target="_blank">Turkmenistan Country Report</a> for more on Turkmenistan's persecuted Church.avoiceforothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10227637615151112263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589629432692180303.post-75130681641625676832012-03-01T10:04:00.000-08:002012-03-01T10:04:23.879-08:00Chinese Law and Religion Monitor<div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>Chinese Law &amp; Religion Monitor</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;">July – December 2011<a href="http://m1.chinaaid.us/index.php?option=com_acymailing&amp;ctrl=url&amp;urlid=473&amp;mailid=125&amp;subid=1935" style="color: rgb(125,\00000d\00000a24, 30); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="Chinese Religion and Law Cover-2011-12[3]" border="0" height="269" hspace="5" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-V67nmZZ7jps/T0G-H8RjAzI/AAAAAAAABjA/BX7pmo6qNUg/Chinese%252520Religion%252520and%252520Law%252520Cover-2011-12%25255B3%25255D_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-left-radius: 5px; border-bottom-right-radius: 5px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204,\00000d\00000a204); border-top-left-radius: 5px; border-top-right-radius: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Chinese Religion and Law Cover-2011-12[3]" width="177" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;">Vol. 7, No. 2</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Editor’s Note</strong><span class="ecxApple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><br />
By “Bob” Xiqiu Fu</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;">In the second half of 2011, human rights,
the rule of law and freedom of religion all continued to deteriorate.
Large
numbers of rights activists and political dissidents were silenced as a
result of the cruel persecution they suffered in the first six months of
the
year. Regrettably, in the face of the Chinese Communists’ almost savage
“big stick” dollar-diplomacy, the heads of most governments
in the international community have maintained a public attitude of
cowardly silence and trying to curry favor with the Chinese Communist
government.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;">This Fall/Winter 2011 issue of Chinese Law
and Religion Monitor contains five articles as well as documents
pertaining
to a house church that has been banned by the government and the
church’s petition. The contents of this issue cover international
religious
freedom, civil rights, Europe’s Islam problem, and China’s house
churches as well as information about specific cases. The aim is to
explore problems at the intersection of the rule of law and religious
freedom with civil society and the political structure and to explore
constructive solutions to these problems.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;">As our earlier issues, this issue is also available on<span class="ecxApple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><a href="http://m1.chinaaid.us/index.php?option=com_acymailing&amp;ctrl=url&amp;urlid=471&amp;mailid=125&amp;subid=1935" style="color: rgb(125,\00000d\00000a24, 30); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.amazon.com</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;"><a href="http://m1.chinaaid.us/index.php?option=com_acymailing&amp;ctrl=url&amp;urlid=474&amp;mailid=125&amp;subid=1935" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/Chinese-Religion-Monitor-07-12-2011/dp/1468156101/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1330560599&amp;sr=8-2-fkmr1</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;">1. Prof. P. Coertzen, of South Africa’s
University of Stellenbosch, in “Religious Freedom and a South
African Charter of Religious Rights and Freedoms,” explores what freedom
of religion means in a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious
country like South Africa, what the government’s role is and what
contributions Christianity can make.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;">2. Pastor E. Perez Romero, director of
ChinaAid’s Los Angeles office, in “Religious Freedom, Civil
Disobedience and Civil Society,” uses Biblical teaching to show that
religious freedom is bestowed by God and that when obedience to God
means
disobedience to man the use of civil disobedience is appropriate, and
discusses some issues and makes some suggestions for how the church, by
using
the Gospel, can bring culture in civil society to new heights. July –
December 2011 Vol. 7, No. 2 4</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;">3. Prof. Ou Dongming, of Sichuan
University’s South Asia Institute, and Prof. Hu Yu, of Southwest
University of
Science and Technology, in “Islam and Liberal Citizenship--Analysis on
Tariq Ramadan’s Views on Western Muslims,” look at the growth
of Islam in Europe’s democratic societies and the challenges it has
brought, exploring and analyzing the paradoxical theory of European
Muslim
intellectual Tariq Ramadan: Europe’s Muslims can integrate with Western
society if they just hold onto the principles of their faith while at
the same time leaving behind those cultural values and customs that are
seriously outdated. The authors pointedly ask: how is it possible to
introduce
new ideas to a faith-derived culture while maintaining the principles of
the faith?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;">4. Liu Peng, researcher at the Chinese
Academy of Social Sciences’ American Studies Research Institute and
director of the Beijing Pushi Institute for Social Sciences, in “House
Churches: Problems and Solutions,” looks at the new cycle of
church-state conflict triggered by the persecution of Shouwang Church
and gives a comprehensive overview that profoundly explores the history,
current
status and operations mode and principles of house churches and sums up
with some proposed solutions to the problem of house churches.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;">5. Yang Kaile, a house church and
church-state relations expert, in “The imperative for innovation in
management
of house churches,” raises the need for the government to change its
thinking about house churches, to be innovative in its management of
religion, and to give up its rigid and outdated guiding principles and
the resulting handling methods― such as “illegal Christian meeting
sites,” “they are the enemy” mentality, spy penetration idea” and
“reeducation for conversion”.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;">6. “Documents Banning the Shangxi House
Church in Lizhou District, Guangyuan city, Sichuan province and the
Church’s Petition” contrasts the policy and actions of the government in
banning the house church with the house church’s respect
for the government while striving to argue its position in accordance
with the law. The house church’s common desire and bottom line: “We
are doing this simply for our faith! We want to meet together!”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;">In short, these six papers all focus on
this central theme: religious freedom is a global issue and the Chinese
government should learn from international models, update its thinking,
and grant the fundamental rights and freedoms that the rule of law
bestows to
house churches.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;">In the past five years, five people have
had a profound impact on China’s religious freedom, rule of law and
development of civil society. As a consequence, they have been cruelly
persecuted. We need to pay attention to their cases and the
international
community needs to intervene. They are: Christian human rights lawyer
Gao Zhisheng, who has long been missing in government custody; blind
rights
activist Chen Guangcheng of Linyi District, Shandong province;
constitutional rights scholar and Christian Dr. Fan Yafeng, who has long
been held
under house arrest; Uyghur house church leader Alimujiang, serving a
15-year prison sentence in Xinjiang; and imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize
laureate
Liu Xiaobo.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;">China Aid Association will continue
striving for improvements in religious freedom, human rights and the
rule of law in
China. To do this, we need the joint efforts of all parties at home and
abroad, to explore theory and practice, and effectively promote the
development of civil society in China.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;">Editor: Pastor Xiqiu “Bob” Fu, founder and president, China Aid Association<span class="ecxApple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><br />
December 31, 2011<span class="ecxApple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><br />
Texas, USA<span class="ecxApple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><br />
Pastor Bob Fu<span class="ecxApple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><br />
Editor-in-chief, founder and president of China Aid Association<span class="ecxApple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>avoiceforothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10227637615151112263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589629432692180303.post-91705336988467007752012-03-01T09:32:00.000-08:002012-03-01T09:32:48.181-08:00The Voice of the Martyrs Canada: Church ransacked in eastern Algeria<a href="http://vomcblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/church-ransacked-in-eastern-algeria.html?spref=bl">The Voice of the Martyrs Canada: Church ransacked in eastern Algeria</a>: The Protestant Church of Ouargla in eastern Algeria was vandalized by an unknown number of armed men on the evening of February 1, reports I...avoiceforothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10227637615151112263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589629432692180303.post-40366401501916810672011-07-23T01:34:00.000-07:002011-07-23T01:34:42.036-07:00Voz de los Martires en Mexico: Voces Mexicanas / El Sufrir<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/AYlHDu93EYE?fs=1" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" width="425"></iframe>avoiceforothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10227637615151112263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589629432692180303.post-40430667521961529622011-07-23T01:32:00.000-07:002011-07-23T01:32:54.305-07:00Voz de los Martires en Mexico: La Victoria en El<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/o-uTjXP8Ugo?fs=1" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" width="425"></iframe>avoiceforothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10227637615151112263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589629432692180303.post-66358190011436037092010-09-22T18:20:00.001-07:002014-07-12T13:11:38.737-07:00Threatened by Mob of 200 With Machetes<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dvr0su7zvFg/TJqszAs0I0I/AAAAAAAAALU/T22INj20iVg/s1600/alas+miguel+ara+con+esdras.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dvr0su7zvFg/TJqszAs0I0I/AAAAAAAAALU/T22INj20iVg/s320/alas+miguel+ara+con+esdras.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519914285657236290" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a> Pastor Miguel and his congregation were harrassed and threatened by the community leaders in San Gregorio, Huixtan, Chiapas for months. They refused to pay for and participate in the Catholic religious festivals. For those crimes the leaders decided to cut their water and electricity. As if that wasn't bad enough, a delegation of 200 screaming, machete brandishing neighbors went to their houses, and after cutting water and lights, decided to tear down the houses. That was more than some of the familiy members could bear. Several Christian members took out their rifles and started shooting in the air to disperse at mob. In the end about 8 of the attackers had been wounded. The Christians fled, and the delegation started a search for any evangelical they could lay their hands on to accuse them of attempted murder. 2 are jailed, 4 fled, and the guilty members were never detained. But no one ever thought to charge the mob with any crime...
Their families are also displaced persons now.
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avoiceforothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10227637615151112263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589629432692180303.post-35877802461586204622010-09-22T17:58:00.000-07:002010-09-22T18:19:45.709-07:00Evangelical Family Expelled from Chilil, Huixtan, Chiapas for not renouncing their faith!<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dvr0su7zvFg/TJqpDmiv7PI/AAAAAAAAALM/9r7Wo-pe52g/s1600/chilil+family+long.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519910172646960370" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dvr0su7zvFg/TJqpDmiv7PI/AAAAAAAAALM/9r7Wo-pe52g/s320/chilil+family+long.JPG" /></a> Almost a year now... displaced persons in Mexico por their faith. Threatened, harrassed, and physically manhandled. Lost a year of schooling, their jobs, possessions, house, their fields, and their crops... and are still waiting for the Mexican governement to enforce its own constitution! <strong>Freedom of Religion.</strong>avoiceforothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10227637615151112263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589629432692180303.post-35585950113254658722010-07-25T19:01:00.000-07:002010-07-27T16:01:23.947-07:00Persecution in Mexico: VOMC / VOM Mexico: Acteal Evangelical Families<p><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/XY9pPSWPv9A&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/XY9pPSWPv9A&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object></p><p></p>
Still Waiting For Justice... Please link in prayer and Activism in support of our Brethren...Acteal Prisoner's Prayer Alert &amp; Postcard Campaign Update: We are reposting this regarding our evangelical brothers, Innocent Prisoners of Acteal. In August of 2009, Estela Luna Perez led her group of families out of Acteal walking to the Mexican capital, 14 hours away by bus. They were joined by over 300 uninvited marchers, and then attacked and fired on by the state police in Oaxaca.The government in Chiapas and political parties had promised support but backed out at the last moment. The peaceful march on behalf of the Innocent Evangelical Prisoners has now been hijacked by two radical groups...with political, propaganda, and financial clout. The Judges of the Supreme Court postponed their decisions until after the summer elections. Estela and her group were humbly camped out in the Zocalo while their counterparts were being well cared for by their backers in nice hotels. I am sure that Estela and her people were disheartened and feeling betrayed by their neighbors. In the end, we all knew that justice would only be determined through trusting the Lord to move on behalf of the innocent prisoners. In November, the Supreme released some other prisoners, but 56, among them the older men, are still condemned under sentences for another 22 years. Please continue with us in prayer for both the prisoners and their families, not forgetting the judges who are dealing with a case no one wants to touch because of the political and propaganda machines involved. You can encourage Estela and her people by participating in the Postcard Campaign here. Last year a manila envelope arrived with drawings from a Sunday School class in Buffalo, New York, telling the Evangelicals, "Don't worry, Jesus loves You!" You too can be a Voice of encouragement to our people who have suffered for their identification as evangelical followers of Jesus Christavoiceforothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10227637615151112263noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589629432692180303.post-8556155231774454562010-07-25T18:57:00.000-07:002010-07-25T19:00:42.090-07:00Persecution in Mexico: VOMC / VOM en Mexico: Los Llanos y Nachig<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/UQStTF3mruE&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/UQStTF3mruE&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>avoiceforothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10227637615151112263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589629432692180303.post-16045533418419991372010-07-25T18:55:00.000-07:002010-07-25T20:28:17.611-07:00Persecution in Mexico: VOMC & VOM en Mexico Collaboration<strong>21 Evangelicals Expelled from Their Community of Chilil in November 2009, still waiting for justice in Government Shelter in San Sristobal de las Casas.</strong>
<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zppkrWNYmlo&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zppkrWNYmlo&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>avoiceforothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10227637615151112263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589629432692180303.post-23357169793535740582010-01-28T17:24:00.000-08:002010-01-28T17:28:18.204-08:00Glenn Penner Passes on to Glory<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dvr0su7zvFg/S2I45XTcy5I/AAAAAAAAAHM/2F2s3fy6cGM/s1600-h/Glenn+Penner.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 133px; height: 204px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dvr0su7zvFg/S2I45XTcy5I/AAAAAAAAAHM/2F2s3fy6cGM/s320/Glenn+Penner.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431966658721532818" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >
<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">Subject:<span style="font-family: lucida grande;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Glenn Penner Passes on to Glory</span></span></span></span> <p style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);"><span style="font-size:130%;"> <span style="font-size: 9pt; font-weight: bold;">After a seven year struggle with cancer, Glenn Penner of The Voice of the Martyrs Canada went home to be with the Lord on the evening of January 26, 2010 at the age of 48.</span></span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Glenn first joined VOM-Canada in 1997. Klaas Brobbel, the Director of the mission at the time, recalls, "Looking back to August 1997 when we interviewed Glenn for the position of Development Director for The Voice of the Martyrs, I marvel at God's goodness and timing to send Glenn our way. The mission was floundering and we needed help. Little could we have known the great work that Glenn would be able to pack into the nearly 12½ years of service to the Persecuted Church."</span></span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Barely five years after joining VOM-Canada, Glenn was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. After undergoing chemotherapy, radiation treatment and a stem cell transplant, Glenn, his wife Denita, and their family decided not to pursue further treatment when the cancer returned. With confidence in God's provision, Glenn bravely continued to serve the Persecuted Church and strove to utilize the time God gave him to its fullest potential.</span></span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Merv Knight, Ambassador-at-Large with International Christian Association, of which VOM-Canada is an affiliate, reflected, "It is my privilege to have had a close association with VOM-Canada from its formative days. I have seen it move through various stages of change and growth. One of those positive changes came with the appointment in 2007 of Glenn Penner as C.E.O. Glenn was God's man for the time."</span></span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Glenn had a particular passion for helping suffering believers to understand the biblical basis for their trials. His book, In the Shadow of the Cross, is an intensive study of the theology of persecution and discipleship which continues to be an invaluable resource to Christians worldwide who are suffering for Christ's sake. A gifted teacher, Glenn was blessed to be able to share his study with Christian leaders in religiously restricted and hostile nations in South America, Africa and Asia, as well as in seminaries and colleges in Europe and North America.</span></span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">In January 2010, Glenn stepped down from the position of C.E.O. to allow him to serve more in line with the limitations and challenges of his condition. Corey Odden, who served for 10 years with VOM-USA, assumed the role of C.E.O. while Glenn became VOMC's Scholar-in-Residence/Executive Advisor.</span></span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Glenn's faithful dedication has inspired many – his family, the staff and supporters of VOM-Canada, international partners, and the many suffering Christians worldwide who have been touched by his service to them. As the mission moves forward into a new chapter, the staff is profoundly thankful to God for Glenn's example.</span></span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Greg Musselman, VOM-Canada's Chief Communications Officer, said, "I've known Glenn for the past 10 years and we worked together at VOM-Canada for seven. We travelled together overseas several times and worked on many video projects and newsletter articles about the Persecuted Church. I learned so much from him in the area of theology and church history and for that I will always be grateful. The rest of the team and I at VOM-Canada will strive to carry on his legacy as we serve the Persecuted Church."</span></span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">VOM-Canada's Chief Operations Officer, Floyd Brobbel, added, "Words can never completely convey what Glenn meant to me and over the years ahead I will cherish the memories of my time with Glenn. The meetings, the travel, the laughter, the tears, the heated discussions, the planning, the practical jokes, and the list goes on to form a wonderful tapestry Glenn wove into my life. I would not change a thing because it all narrows to one word for me, and that is 'friend.'"</span></span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Friends and family of Glenn Penner are invited to celebrate his life and express condolences to his loved ones on Friday, January 29 at City Centre Baptist Church. The viewing will be held, the Lord willing, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., with the funeral beginning at 1:00 p.m. City Centre Baptist Church is located at 1075 Eglinton Avenue West in Mississauga, Ontario. A memorial service is planned for Saturday, February 6 at 1:00 p.m. at the Zion Evangelical Missionary Church in Didsbury, Alberta. Directions are available at <a href="http://www.zemc.org/" target="_blank">www.zemc.org</a>. For more information, please phone 1.888.298.6423.</span></span></p> <p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; font-weight: bold; font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; font-weight: bold; font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;"> </span></span></p>avoiceforothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10227637615151112263noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589629432692180303.post-46128523465402646292009-11-03T06:32:00.000-08:002009-11-03T16:09:14.263-08:00Christians Still Die And there IS Religious Persecution in Mexico<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dvr0su7zvFg/SvBAmo6P60I/AAAAAAAAAHE/vUnV47Zpo5k/s1600-h/viaje+ok+octubre+2009+083.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dvr0su7zvFg/SvBAmo6P60I/AAAAAAAAAHE/vUnV47Zpo5k/s320/viaje+ok+octubre+2009+083.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399886985778162498" border="0" /></a>On October 13th, I had the honor and privilege of presenting information about <span style="font-weight: bold;">Religious Persecution in Mexico</span> at the VOM/USA office in Oklahoma, for the first time representing our own office, VOM en Mexico. Actually getting there was the battle... on the way to the border in San Luis Colorado, where I planned on visiting my daughter Jaimee and grandson Lonney Ray (pictured here with the Lion), my wallet will all my money and documents was stolen... just before I arrived. I found out when we went to Mac Donalds and ordered, only to find that my wallet was gone! Passport, Maine ID, credit card, prison visitation ID, checks, immigration permission... EVERTHING. No money... no phone to contact people... no way to get on a plane from Yuma to Tulsa without passport or picture ID. Now if you know me, you have heard about my wild travel by bus stories of things that have happened to me that shouldn't. I have actually some VOM fame in Oklahoma that I shouldn't deserve. Why, when anyone mentions traveling by bus, does everyone who knows me or has heard of me, start laughing? It's a toss up of being known for my "strong" personality (who: sweet and kind little ole me?) or the infamous bus trips I've experienced. And actually, without apologies, I'll say that now British owned Greyhound bus service in the States could learn alot from the luxury, and reasonably priced buslines in Mexico and Central America, where one can ride in comfort, and be treated politely! Since I couldn't get to OK on time, I set about doing what I needed todo to get my report written and sent in, with the help of a young man I'd never met before, who was visiting at La Sombra Baptist Church in San Luis, Sonora, Mexico. And on Sunday morning, after church, this "strange" young man told me that the Lord had told him that I should get to that conference. So when nothing else was feasible, he offered to drive me in his car and pay the costs for the 30 hour straight trip to Bartlesville. Well, at that rate, Jaime asked if she could tag along, and bring her son, Lonney. So off we went, on a journey made a bit longer by my grandson's tendency to carsickness, but with Allan and his fiancee, Hayley showing patience and kindness all the way. We arrived at 1:30 am... and were received with typical VOM love and graciousness. I believe that the information from our office was rather different, and that many heard for the first time, or at least explained in a clearer manner, what is the actual situation relating to religious discrimination and persecution in Mexico, now even recognized by the US State Department last week. I'd say that the <span style="font-weight: bold;">higher indices</span> of persecution are a result of several issues... and not until the August Supreme Court release of 20 Acteal Massacre Prisoners, due to increased resentment or hatred for evangelical believers by those of the majority church. Those two causes would be: 1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">increased activism in reporting cases as they happen</span>, and 2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">workshops t</span>aught since 2007, teaching the indigena believers that they have guarenteed religious liberty under Article 24 of the Mexican constitution. That due to people like Oscar Moha, journalist/human rights defender in Mexico City and Esdras Alonso, leader &amp; human rights defender in Chiapas. We would attribute the<span style="font-weight: bold;"> persecution in general </span>to: the <span style="font-weight: bold;">1. disinterest of the Mexican federal government</span> to promote religious equality and to stand by the laws that guarantee it, and the 2.<span style="font-weight: bold;">position of the majority church as a favored body</span>, loathe to give up its political and spiritual influence, and the increasing loss of its followers to the evangelical movement, and 3. <span style="font-weight: bold;">indigena groups or traditional rural communities </span>who believe they are legitimately defending the Religious, Traditional,Economic and Cultural Identity of their communities... VOM en Mexico has been able, through the documentation and strong advocacy efforts of Oscar Moha to call attention to these issues... both inside and outside Mexico. Now to work more closely with those who have been on the front line, suffering for their evangelical faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Above in the photo, you will see my grandson, who has already made his first missionary trip to Chiapas, and feels a connection with it's indigena peoples. He says his best friend is Brother Tom White. He certainly is in good comapny! God bless, Tom White and all the others like him, who love and sacrifice to be a Voice for those who don't have one!avoiceforothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10227637615151112263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589629432692180303.post-24154546619818708492009-09-28T09:37:00.001-07:002009-09-28T09:37:15.886-07:00Why can't Christians unite to change America's ways?<a href="http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=111154">Why can't Christians unite to change America's ways?</a>
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avoiceforothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10227637615151112263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589629432692180303.post-10739400069498240292009-08-14T15:50:00.000-07:002009-08-14T18:27:49.159-07:00A Miracle for the Innocent Evangelical Prisoners from Chiapas Highlands<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dvr0su7zvFg/SoXq49XTTYI/AAAAAAAAAG8/6bIy_S4SDn0/s1600-h/acteal+presos+gozando.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dvr0su7zvFg/SoXq49XTTYI/AAAAAAAAAG8/6bIy_S4SDn0/s320/acteal+presos+gozando.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369956394975055234" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Praise God for His Mercy and Faithfulness to His most Forgotten Children</span>!</span>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dvr0su7zvFg/SoXqo5rNjRI/AAAAAAAAAG0/x8jGRxVy-BI/s1600-h/acteal+presos+en+camino+a+hotel.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dvr0su7zvFg/SoXqo5rNjRI/AAAAAAAAAG0/x8jGRxVy-BI/s320/acteal+presos+en+camino+a+hotel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369956119106915602" border="0" /></a>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >
</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">20 Tzotzil Indigenas detained illegally and sentenced on the basis of falsified and maliciously manufactured evidence have finally been heard by the Mexican Supreme Court, which stopping short of declaring them innocent, decided in favor of their release after almost 12 years because of patently falsified evidence by the government investigators and attorney general's office. 20 more remain from the same list of appeals, and 56 more who will have their cases re-evaluated. The decision by the judges is an unheard of reverse by the Court, and although merited because of the many irregularities through out the investigation and trials, many thought the judges would not have the courage to make the decision they did. Although 9 suspects had confessed, and stated that the evangelicals had nothing to do with the Acteal Massacre in '97 of 45, mostly women and children, the police and judges consistently had willfully ignored the confessions and the alibis for the majority. The majority of the detained were evangelicals not in agreement with the rebel Zapatistas that had taken possession and control of their region. Their lands have been taken over, homes lost, families denied government aid due them, families broken up, and destroyed. Their families have suffered rejection and condemnation, malnutrition and loss of all dear to them. Apparently the men have remained firm in their faith, even winning to Christ some of the other prisoners who were not evangelicals at the time of the arrests. (Evangelical believers still suffer religious intolerance and persecution in the highlands and surrounding areas of Chiapas, Mexico.) The prisoners have been abandoned in the past by the Mexican people who believed the calumny against them, still do, and even by the Body of Christ in Mexican and around the world. We praise the Lord for the teams of lawyers who have come to their defense, and those in the Body of Christ, including children, who have supported them in their years of suffering in the name of Christ, and treated them as political prisoners by their own government, who allowed them to be framed. Praise the Lord for His Mercy and Faithfulness, to us, and tho those who need it most! Lord have Mercy on those who presented false testimony and evidence to promote their own causes, and develop a propaganda machine that has made millions of dollars from the misfortune of the victims, the survivors, and the falsely accused!</span>
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</span></span>avoiceforothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10227637615151112263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589629432692180303.post-81055590771701307312009-06-13T15:50:00.000-07:002009-06-13T16:24:45.919-07:00Justice is Mine, says the Lord! /Prayer Campaign for Acteal Prisoners and Families<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dvr0su7zvFg/SjQ0nKqrz0I/AAAAAAAAAGM/eT8d7QnIB1E/s1600-h/Acteal+4+Buffalo+cartitas_iv.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 216px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dvr0su7zvFg/SjQ0nKqrz0I/AAAAAAAAAGM/eT8d7QnIB1E/s320/Acteal+4+Buffalo+cartitas_iv.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346956505078550338" border="0" /></a>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dvr0su7zvFg/SjQ0aHeqp1I/AAAAAAAAAGE/f8l9Ezg9RWc/s1600-h/Acteal+Estela+moved+to+tears+by+kids+cdards.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dvr0su7zvFg/SjQ0aHeqp1I/AAAAAAAAAGE/f8l9Ezg9RWc/s320/Acteal+Estela+moved+to+tears+by+kids+cdards.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346956280884537170" border="0" /></a>
<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">
</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">To The</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Acteal</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Families</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> And</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Prisoners, </span>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">From Buffalo, New York Sunday School Kids, </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">DO NOT GIVE UP HOPE!</span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">JESUS LOVES "TU"...WE HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN YOU!
</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" >This is one of the dozen or so cards that arrived just in time this week in Mexico City, to be presented to Estela Luna Perez, spokesperson for the Acteal Prisoners Families. She was surprised, and very touched by the interest and Christian love showed by this group of young American kids for her and her people. Please keep our brothers and sisters in Christ in your prayers, and before the Lord...for in the end, "Justice is Mine," says the Lord!</span>
</span></span></span>avoiceforothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10227637615151112263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589629432692180303.post-34052965268225343312009-06-10T21:12:00.000-07:002010-07-25T20:00:28.575-07:00Prayer and Postcard Campaign for the Acteal Prisoners and their Families<span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-size:100%;" ><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,0,0);font-size:180%;" >Acteal Prisoner's Prayer Alert &amp; Postcard Campaign
UPDATE JUNE 10, 2009 </span>
<span style="COLOR: rgb(153,0,0)">We are reposting this since the latest happenings, this week, regarding our brothers and their families. Estela Luna Perez led her group of families out of Acteal walking to the Mexican capital, 14 hours away by bus. They were joined by over 300 uninvited marchers, and then attacked and fired on by the state police in Oaxaca.The government in Chiapas and political parties had promised support but backed out at the last moment. The peaceful march on behalf of the Innocent Evangelical Prisoners has now been hijacked by two radical groups...with political, propaganda, y financial clout. The Judges of the Supreme Court has postponed their decisions until after the summer elections. Estela and her group are humbly camped out in the Zocalo while their counterparts are being well cared for by their backers in nice hotels. I am sure that Estela and her people are disheartened and feeled betrayed by their neighbors. In the end, we all knew that justice would only be determined through trusting the Lord to move on behalf of the innocent prisoners. Please continue with us in prayer for both the prisoners and their families, not forgetting the judges who are dealing with a case no one wants to touch because of the political and propaganda machines involved. You can encourage Estela and her people by participating in the Postcard Campaign here. This week an manila envelope arrived with drawings from a Sunday School class in Buffalo, New York, telling the Evangelicals, "Don't worry, Jesus loves You!" You too can be a Voice of encouragement to our people who have suffered for their identification as evangelical followers of Jesus Christ.</span></span>
<span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-size:180%;" ><strong>********************************************************
<span style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:130%;">P</span><span style="font-size:130%;">RISONER ALERT: 2009 Prayer &amp; Postcard Campaign</span></span></strong><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:100%;" >!</span></span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong></strong></span><strong></strong><strong style="FONT-STYLE: italic"></strong><strong style="FONT-STYLE: italic"></strong><strong style="FONT-STYLE: italic"></strong><strong style="FONT-STYLE: italic"></strong><strong style="FONT-STYLE: italic"></strong>
</span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-size:100%;" >Fify six (+/-) of our Evangelical brothers in Christ have now lost 12 years of their lives, and will have to serve another 13 (23 in some cases) years, if justice is not attained for them and the families that were left behind when they were originally detained without evidence. Please pray for <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">all</span> those who were victimized by the Massacre in Acteal (1997). The prisoners and their families often feel abandoned, and as if the Body of Christ has forgotten or is ignoring them. Help us to encoutrage them, and to let them know that we, ae their brothers and sisters in Christ, do care:
/ 1. Buy an appropiate postcard from your part of the world, to show where you are from.
2. If is for a prisoner, write in block ketters to the left, on the message side, <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">Hermano</span>. If it is meant for a family, write in block letters, </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-size:100%;" ><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">Familia.</span></span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-size:100%;" >
3. Choose and print legibly, a scripture verse of <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">encouragement</span>, with book and verse, which is similar to the Spanish names of Bible books. Do not write a note in English. They are Tzotzil, and most do not even speak Spanish.
4. Sign your name with a cross or a heart after your signature.
5. On the right hand side, put the address of our office and contact.</span>
<span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-size:100%;" > VOM en Mexico Administracion
Att. Linda Picard </span>
<span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-size:100%;" > Calle Sixto Osuna # 2</span>
<span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-size:100%;" > Villa Union</span>
<strong></strong><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-size:100%;" > Sinaloa, Mexico 82200</span>
<span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-size:100%;" ><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">God bless you for reflecting Christ's love to the "least of these " our brethren...</span>
</span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-size:100%;" >
</span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-size:100%;" ></span><span style="font-size:180%;"></span>avoiceforothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10227637615151112263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589629432692180303.post-71493537785232493782009-05-28T09:48:00.000-07:002009-05-28T15:07:46.946-07:00Thinking of Amitai... and all the children like him.. Jesus Loves You, Everything will be OK ?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dvr0su7zvFg/Sh7BJ1KVabI/AAAAAAAAAFE/8B7cBun5OnA/s1600-h/2+Oaxaca+dolls+and+monkey+++++DSC01684.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dvr0su7zvFg/Sh7BJ1KVabI/AAAAAAAAAFE/8B7cBun5OnA/s320/2+Oaxaca+dolls+and+monkey+++++DSC01684.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340918582741395890" border="0" /></a>The Voice of the Martyrs<span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 102);">Blessing Program for the Children and Women of Persecuted Christian Leaders</span> is one of the ways that we get to know brothers and sisters who are persecuted for their Christian faith... a way to show them in the name of Jesus, that we care and are concerned for them, and others like them around the world. We, in Sinaloa, who are a part of the hopefully new VOM Mexico mission, don't have the funding behind us like other larger ministries present in Mexico, and started out between 4 of us: with Jaimee, me, Karina, and Janeth just making odds and ends in a workshop area in my home for the first Blessings celebration in Ocosingo in 2005... for believe it or not about 450 children. The major costs were paid for by VOM/USA through the colaboration and leadership of the Spanish speaking office in Costa Rica. We have develped a small group of faithful supporters who contribute clothes, small toys, hair doodads, etcetera every year, and several who have offering cans in their church to collect change that is passed to us when it is close to full, or we have the need. The second year when over 1000 children were invited, we were blessed by the participation of 24 churches in the state of Sinaloa... something that sadly we have not been able to repeat. But Praise God! What a wonderful year it was! Since we are now working independently, it is so much more imortant to find faithful supporters, first in prayer, second in offerings however small they may be... since few projects are without some cost, and then in donations of materials like you see in this photo: Biblical coloring and bilingual or Spanish story books with pictures, educational and recreational material... baby dolls, "hot-wheel" cars, farm and animal figures, hair doodads, hygiene objects, that are not bulky and all time kids' favorites. I have collected the equivalent of pennies, nickles and dimes for several years now from small rural churches... and sometimes I have even financed my trips to Chiapas that way.<span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Why bother struggling like that? How valuable is such a program? </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">I'm thinking of a little boy named <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Amitai ( like so many others arround the world),</span> 9 years old, living in Oaxaca, who lost his home, all his possessions, and his father to lack of medical care... all because his parents accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour... and were expelled from their home and community last year.When his father, who was confined to a wheelchair, died last March from fever and complications, he and his mother were kicked out of their tiny apartment, and moved into a smaller room for the two of them. Even with that she is struggling to care for them both. She is a tiny thing, like me. You just want to hug here and say, "Don't worry, it'll be okay. Jesus loves you". But it's not always ok... and she and Amitai will probably suffer some more. She's worried about how her son, who lost more than a year of schooling when they were expelled, will be able to continue studying. Although it is supposed that schooling in Mexico is free... it is far from it. Children have a huge list of what they must buy before they enter school, up to and including the toilet paper for the bathrooms, and the water for the classroom. Although it is required to attend school through secondary level, in cases like Nereida's, the hard truth is that children need to work to help put food on the table and a roof over their heads. In the name of our Lord, and through Voice of the Martyrs, I want to hug Amitai, and his mom... and all the children and their moms from the Acteal Evangelical Prisoners group and say... "Jesus loves you... especially when life is hard, and so does the Body of Christ. They pray for you. They are concerned for you and others like you in places where they suffer even more than here in Mexico. In His name, we are going to stand by you, encourage you in His Word, and where it is possible help you in other ways through the sacrifice of brothers and sisters in Christ who also love you. You are a blessing to us!" </span>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Please join us in the ministry of encouragement and support for those who are willing to pay a price beyond pearls for their faith in Jesus Christ. As I drink my coffee comfortably here in Sinaloa, my heart aches for those I personally know who need encouragement and a helping hand ... how many more are there in this world who need a hug, and someone to say, "It'll be okay... Jesus loves you! and I do too!"</span>
<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Matthew 25: 31-46</span>avoiceforothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10227637615151112263noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589629432692180303.post-48641629502586099102009-05-27T12:48:00.000-07:002009-05-27T13:24:35.636-07:00Acteal Case to be Revisted / Will there be Justice for the Evangelicals?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dvr0su7zvFg/Sh2aOphD1-I/AAAAAAAAAE0/xHx8CjZ-Onk/s1600-h/abuela+crying.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dvr0su7zvFg/Sh2aOphD1-I/AAAAAAAAAE0/xHx8CjZ-Onk/s320/abuela+crying.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340594309584639970" border="0" /></a>Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, this article came out Monday by the <span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);">La Jornada</span>, and is the latest on the Acteal Case in which over 40 evangelicals were falsely accused of participating in the horrendous massacre. The information is long in coming, and obviously the defense from the Christian ministry,Open Doors, has been working for this, and still hoping that justice will be served. These brothers have been persecuted for their faith, imprisoned unjustly for 12+ years, lost homes, lands, wives who married other men to survive, family...everything but their faith in Christ. Their wives and children who were poor and marginalized before, were left worse off. Please keep this situation in prayer, the Supreme court judges and those waiting for their verdict. This is the last judicial option they will have. Should they gain their freedom they will be faced with: where to go, how to begin over, how to relate to those who pointed their fingers at them and said..."He was one of them". <b><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);">Translation is from the Spanish text. The article is here specifically to promote prayer.</span></b>
<p class="EC_EC_MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold;"><span style=";font-family:'Verdana','sans-serif';font-size:100%;" lang="ES-MX"><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);">
</span></span><span style=";font-family:'Verdana','sans-serif';font-size:100%;" ></span><span style="background: yellow none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;font-family:'Verdana','sans-serif';font-size:100%;color:black;" >(Fuente: La Jornada / Mexico) It Appears That the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation Intends to Liberate 14 Indian Prisoners Imprisoned for the Acteal Massacre</span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" ></span></p> <p class="EC_EC_MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold;"><span style=";font-family:'Verdana','sans-serif';font-size:100%;color:black;" > The opening discussion of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (Mexico) is about 4 legal “stays” granted to 41 Indians who were sentenced for the Acteal Massacre, committed on December 22<sup>nd</sup>, 1997, in Chiapas, Mexico. The resulting proposal of complete freedom for 14 of the accused and sentenced is “because their responsibility in the massacre has not been fully proved”; while, a special legal “judicial stay” has been ordered in the cases of some 27 other cases, so that the presiding judge can evaluate evidence that was not considered when he had made his decision. </span><span style=";font-family:'Verdana','sans-serif';font-size:100%;" >
<span style="color:black;">Judicial sources have confirmed the report, and explained that the 4 “stays” will be analyzed in session by the court officials before Wednesday, with the objective of resolving the situation in no more than 2 weeks (?). The four issues were presented at different times, but they are all related to the same case: the assassination of 45 Tzotzil Indians (21 women - 4 of them pregnant, 15 children, and 9 men) who belonged to the organization “The Bees”, while they were praying and fasting for peace (in the Chiapas Highlands).</span>
<span style="color:black;">It is noted that the issues discussed by the 5 judges, who make up highest group of the Supreme Court, are related exclusively to Indians who were accused of the crimes of personal injury, homicide, and bearing arms restricted to only military use.</span>
<span style="color:black;">None of the issues have to do with the 15 ex state agents and public officials who were also sentenced.</span>
<span style="color:black;">In accordance with the information obtained, the legal “protections” or stays were presented by groups of those sentenced. The group reviewed by Olga Sanchez Cordero is made of 4 complainants, Jose de Jesus Gudiño Pelayo with 6, Jose Ramon Cossio with 14, and Sergio Valls made up of 25.</span>
<span style="color:black;">Judicial sources confirmed that out of all of these cases, immediate release is proposed in 14 cases, because after reviewing the files, the officials did not find proof that confirmed the accusations made against the complainants. There are testimonies of those who deny having been at the scene of the crime, or some who claim they were victims, but the authorities have not proved that they had participated in the murders.</span>
<span style="color:black;">Respecting the other 27 complainants, the review board proposes conceding a judicial stay, so that the tribune can dictate a sentence that takes into account evidential proofs that were ignored in the first case, and that were definitive in their original sentencing.</span> <span style="color:black;">The complainants received sentences that varied from 25 to 40 years of prison.</span>
<span style="color:black;">Once the court officials analyze in private the four issues, they will then review in which cases exist “insufficient proof” to advance the approval of final verdicts, in which each judge will maintain his or her point of view.</span></span></p><p class="EC_EC_MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold;"><span style=";font-family:'Verdana','sans-serif';font-size:10;" ><span style="color:black;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The woman pictured above, mother of Acteal Family Spokesperson Estela Luna Perez, the wife and mother of men imprisoned for over 12 years now, cries during an interview with Voice of the Martyrs team who have listened to their testimonies and needs.</span>
</span></span></p>avoiceforothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10227637615151112263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589629432692180303.post-1355282729584885712009-05-09T13:15:00.000-07:002009-05-28T09:48:30.608-07:00Classic Case of Religious Intolerance Leading to Persecution<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dvr0su7zvFg/SgXosKFnlaI/AAAAAAAAAEk/xXD6dcQamx4/s1600-h/equipo+oscar+at+compu.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333925179010028962" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; width: 320px; height: 240px;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dvr0su7zvFg/SgXosKFnlaI/AAAAAAAAAEk/xXD6dcQamx4/s320/equipo+oscar+at+compu.JPG" border="0" /></a>
<div><a href="http://twitter.com/avoiceforothers">http://twitter.com/avoiceforothers</a></div><div></div><div><strong>Oscar Moha, well known Christian news journalist and human rights defender in Mexico for over 20 years, receives and documents each case of religious intolerance and developing persecution in Mexico as they occur. Many realize that there is ongoing persecution in the southern state of Chiapas, but aren't conscious that there are reports on a regular basis from 7 other states, involving sometimes entire communities, or several families threatened with violence, loss of their lands and expulsion...leaving everything they own behind. Such is the case of the over 400 evangelical believers expelled from San Juan Yatzona in the state of Oaxaca, since 1984. Oscar initially received their complaint of not receiving any help from the government Religious Affairs office back in February of this year, later met with and interviewed them, and advised them of where they should go to seek legal support. We organized a Children's Day activity for their families for the 30th of April, with the idea of meeting with them again and seeing how things were going. These activities are also a way of encouraging those who are persecuted, and providing them with an opportunity to relax a little and enjoy both their families and Christian fellowship. Several sisters in Christ have been working in the office in Sinaloa since September making gift containers, collecting, and shopping for small gifts and Christian material for the children of these brothers and sisters in Christ who were expelled from their homes, leaving everything behind. The actual expulsions began in 1984, very strictly maneuvered to discourage anyone else from daring to leave behind the old ways combined with a local required form of Catholicism. Those who were expelled originally, could not recuperate their houses, lands, crops, or possessions. Little by little they accomodated themselves in new places, and went back when they could to visit with, and occasionally share the gospel with the familiy members they had left behind. Whenever there were enough new converts to be noticed, they would be expelled by force again. The latest expulsions in 2007 and this past year put a real strain on the believers who had left years before, making it more difficult to help them resettle. Nine families were expelled in the past year, loosing the family lands and houses built with much sacrifice and hard work. Rxxxxx, a young Catholic had worked in the US for 8 years, managing to send back to his wife enough to build his 2 story house and equip it. He received a fax from the community authorities telling him his wife had converted, and he made his way home to present her by force and pay the fine required. But when he arrived, willing to do anything to recover his legal property, he was beaten, and dropped off in a near by town. He is being punished for not controlling his wife's behaviour, and for her becoming an evangelical believer. He can't understand why his fellow Catholics have stolen his property by force and abused him and his family. Two other young wives were abandoned by their husbands who decided not to send them any more money from the States if it meant loosing what they were investing in. One of the children, a three year old girl died at the end of March without her father's support. A young brother in Christ, Nxxxx, decapacitated and in a wheel chair, died from a treatable illness, without resources, leaving his young wife Nxxxxxx, of 28 and their 9 year old son, Axxxx alone. She was evicted from their tiny apartment 2 weeks after he died for lack of funds. All of these people had houses, lands, merchandise, jobs, etcetera before they were violently expelled at 4 am in the morning, in the pouring rain by a mob of 15 masked "neighbors", forced to hide in the bushes as they were chased from their town. They are forbidden to even talk to their families in Yatzona, to prevent them from contaminating the rest with their "evangelical cult " ideas. The Oaxacan state government has refused to even acknowledge the religious persecution. Arrest warrants were signed for 8 persons, but they each paid for and received an amparo which allows them their freedom from prosecution. This is one of the clearest caes of persecution I've seen yet.. and is outside of Chiapas. Please keep them in prayer...they are without resources and struggling to maintain their children in school, and fed. Their party was postponed by the influenza epidemic...but I left everything there ready for them, to enjoy as soon as possible, and shared with them about others who suffer persecution even more severe in other parts of the world. I think they have learned to understand what it is to suffer for Christ's sake, and can relate better to the sufferings of others. Pray for young Rxxxx, for his relationship with the Lord in the midst of his problems, which seem to him to be so unfair. Will keep you posted...if you are interested in encouraging them, or in helping in some way, leave me a comment here please. God bless you for your concern, linda</strong></div>avoiceforothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10227637615151112263noreply@blogger.com2